CUPRA has been announced as the Title and Founding Partner of the 2026 Madrid E-Prix, only the second ever Spanish EPrix and the first at the Circuito del Jarama circuit in north Madrid on Saturday, March 21.
Formula E Notebook also understands that Jarama has a deal in principal with Formula E for the first season of Gen4 in 2027, with a July date likely to play out amid a finale to the season that could see several European races complete the first Gen3 season
The present deal with CUPRA, which is partner with the Kiro team, is set to involve what Formula E described as a “comprehensive suite of rights, including high-impact trackside branding, immersive AR broadcast integration, and a dedicated presence within the Fan Village.’
CUPRA will showcase the highly anticipated, all-electric CUPRA Raval set to launch in 2026 at the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship debut in the Spanish capital on 21 March. This is being labelled as ‘a pivotal model for both CUPRA and the Volkswagen Group. It is the first vehicle in the new Electric Compact Car family that includes four models designed to make electric mobility more accessible and popular across Europe.’
Racing in Spain takes special significance for Formula E as its roots were created by largely Spanish individuals Alejandro Agag, Enrique Banuelos, Enrique Buenaventura and Alberto Longo.
The latter of that group, Longo, said that “Spain’s love for motorsports and racing tradition have been decisive in choosing Madrid as one of the locations for the 2026 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
“CUPRA’s support has been fundamental and having them on board as the Official Title and Founding Partner of the Madrid E-Prix amplifies our commitment to bringing world-class racing to the capital city for the first time.”
The genesis of the Jarama deal came after it became an unlikely alternative to the traditional pre-season test at Valencia when the Circuit Ricardo Tormo was hit by the devastating floods that swept through the area in November 2024.
The successful relocation to Jarama and the largely favourable comments by Formula E drivers about the 2.392-mile circuit put the track on the map for a possible race this season.
Plans for a possible re-emergence of the Montjuïc street track in Barcelona for a possible race in 2027 have also been mooted in the past, although these have become quieter in recent months.
“The arrival of Formula E in Madrid represents a new benchmark for Spain,” Markus Haupt, CEO of CUPRA.
“Together with Comunidad de Madrid and Formula E, we are bringing the thrill and emotion of the world’s most exciting electric racing competition to a broader audience.
“This is another step in our mission to push electrification at every level, from the streets to the racetrack. It is also a key moment for our brand and for the CUPRA KIRO racing team. We are ambitious: we want to keep winning and we want Spain to embrace electric mobility, and we are convinced that adding Madrid to the Formula E calendar will help us achieve both.”
Marti the Marvel to Sweep Madrid
Pepe Marti’s headline grabbing start to his Formula E career is sure to carry serious momentum to his home race next month.
Marti, who was born in Sabadell close to the Circuit de Catalunya, joined the CUPRA Kiro operation last autumn. Despite a paucity of testing Marti had a strong Valencia test before making a spectacular debut in Sao Paulo. It was there that he got his Porsche in to a strong position only to misjudge his Full Course Yellow countdown and vault off the back of Antonio Felix da Costa and Nico Mueller in one of the all-electric series most cataclysmic accidents.
Undeterred Marti scored his first points with an excellent top gear from the rear performance in Mexico City to claim seventh position. He backed this up with a tenacious run to ninth in Miami at the end of January.
Formula E only had five Spanish drivers prior to Marti arriving with CUPRA Kiro. Oriol Servia and Jaime Alguersuari competed in the first Formula E race at Beijing in September 2014, while Corvette sportscar ace Antonio Garcia also made a few appearances in the first season.
Roberto Merhi took part in seven underwhelming races for Mahindra in 2023 when he deputised for Oliver Rowland who left the team midway through the season.
